# NTSB CEN22LA097: Aviat A-1B, N188DS, Matagorda Island, TX, January 4, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 4, 2022, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Matagorda Island, TX - Coordinates: 28.203181, -96.666347 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2032&lon=-96.6663&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104508 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA097 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104508/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104508 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA097 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of directional control during an intentional off-airport landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was performing a precautionary landing on a beach when the airplane veered left and impacted a sand dune, resulting in substantial damage. Following the accident, he reported to his insurance company that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and that he chose to land on the beach to take a photo. The airplane was not examined following the accident; however, the circumstances are consistent with the pilot’s loss of directional control during an off-airport landing. ## Factual narrative On January 4, 2022, about 1130 central standard time, an Aviat A-1B airplane, N188DS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident on Matagorda Island, Texas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot and passenger departed about 1005 and proceeded to the northeast at a cruise altitude about 3,500 ft mean sea level. The pilot reported that he performed a precautionary landing for unspecified reasons to a beach. During the landing roll, the airplane veered left and collided with a sand dune. The fuselage and both wings sustained substantial damage. When reporting the accident to his insurance company, the pilot reported that he landed to take a picture. He did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. A postaccident photo of the airplane revealed that one propeller blade exhibited leading edge polishing; the other propeller blade was obscured. The airplane was not examined following the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N188DS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N188DS), registered now, S/N 2326, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A-1B (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Aviat A-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1b) (registry code 2210406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2326 - Year built: 2005 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1P 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mb Powers Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MFE, McAllen, TX - Destination: CWF, St. Charles, LA - Airport: N/A - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 2, 2022; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,004 total, 13 in this make and model, 1,840 as pilot in command, 109 in the last 90 days, 44 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 3 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: KRKP, 21 nm away - METAR: METAR KRKP 041653Z AUTO 11003KT 9SM CLR 17/10 A3022 RMK AO2 SLP234 T01720100= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20220104000319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220104000319A), Jan 4, 2022: Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1B, Matagorda Islan, TX, Substantial damage. On jan 04, 2022 at 1500 hours (CST). Aviat husky A-1B. Pilot attempted to land on Matagorda island, Texas. Failed attempt resulted in crash. VFR conditions… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104508. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15233596&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20CEN22LA097_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 289 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15235041&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN22LA097%20Photos%202-Rel.pdf - Case findings (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 227 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15235362&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Case%20Findings-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.